The Credibility of Justice and Care Arguments in an Instructional Context

Abstract

This study examines ratings of the credibility of a speaker and the message under two conditions. The analogue design presented either justice or care arguments that supported or opposed the reproductive rights of women. Credibility ratings included the attractiveness, expertness and trustworthiness of the speaker and the effectiveness of the message. We found that ratings of the credibility of the speaker did not differ in the justice or care conditions. However, when the message advocated for reproductive rights of women, subjects rated care arguments as more credible than justice ones. When the message opposed the reproductive rights of women, there were no differences in ratings of the credibility of the message.